Categories: Accessories and GearReverence

Reverence: Gilet

A properly-fitting gilet is an indispensable piece of kit

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who own a properly-fitting, lightweight gilet and those who don’t. Those who own one know this is an indispensable piece of kit.

The gilet is typically one of the last items that enters into a Cyclist’s wardrobe, long after arm warmers, knee warmers, and long sleeve jerseys have found their way into the kit bag. It’s just a vest, after all, and can’t possibly serve much purpose beyond Looking Pro, can it? It can, in fact.

A vest is an incredibly versatile unit that serves to stave off all kinds of Fuckness – be it from wind, rain, or cold. Furthermore, the sleeveless design makes it easy don or doff, and packs away nicely; a lightweight gilet can be folded flat (first in half, then in thirds) and slipped between the jersey and bibs, keeping the rear pockets clear and accessible for tools and food.

In short, the gilet is a Four-Season Fuckness Stopper that accompanies me year-round, one which I personally hold in higher regard than the long sleeve jersey:

In Winter it is an ideal insulation barrier, adding warmth to a long or short sleeve jersey, or bridging the gap between the two during Spring and Fall
In Spring and Fall, the wind-breaking capabilities make for a great rain barrier in (depending on your climate, Winter as well)
In Summer, its lightweight nature makes it the ideal garment to stave off the chill of an early morning start or to bring along for warmth on cold mountain descents

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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mrhallorann says:

Jan 5 2012 at 4:16 pm

@frank

@all
Who was it that used the word "tricksy" today or yesterday? Just FYI, that has me giggling right now.

Moi, talking about dopamine over in the Romanticization article :)
frank says:

Jan 5 2012 at 4:55 pm

@jimmy

Akin to the post on RdV's shin-guards, my early experience with a 'gilet' was chamois that covered the chest and shoulder blades as the standard early spring chest protection. Over a base layer, under a jersey it was a little work to get on smooth and came off with the weight of chain mail if wet. Great protection though. Given the helmets of the time, it was easy enough to take off...once. There was no putting it back on in an echelon like one can with a current zip up model. photo is modeled outside a jersey to give better perspective. I had to dig through a few suitcases to find it last night, maybe I'll use it for car washing next summer.

THAT. IS. THE. COOLEST. THING. EVER.

Did a ride with G'rilla today, forgot to have him video me while doffing my gilet and folding it to stow...figure a vide of that will help people understand what I'm talking about...
frank says:

Jan 5 2012 at 5:17 pm

@Clips and Straps

I totally agree the Gilet is the most indispensible bit of kit after your basic riding jersey, shorts, shoes, gloves etc.
Here in Britain, where you often get all 4 seasons in one day, i seldom go out without either wearing or carrying it. It weighs nothing, rolls up super small and does not cost much unless you buy designer gear.
As we are cyclists please remember how to pronounce it, a la Sean Kelly commentaries, or at least the understandable ones. "ggeee lay". No hard Gs and certainly not "Gill let"; you can only pronounce it this way if riding a horse in the Home Counties (swanky up market horsey culture paid for by Daddy !).

I am actually thinking of adding a pronunciation key to all our kit, as its now classified as Zwarte, Witte, Winter. Its Dutch/Flemish, so should be pronounced "Z-v-art-uh", "Vit-uh", and "Vin-ter".

Not to mention the name of the site:
DerHoggz says:

Jan 5 2012 at 7:19 pm

@frank
So, basically fake German? (I hear that riles up you Duthfolk) I took a solid 4 years of Deutsch in school so I have those pronunciations down fine. My French and Italian cycling word pronunciation is atrocious. There is a kid on my floor from the Democratic Republic of the Congo that I run it past, but they have their own dialect or something, as the French girl I am friends with just facepalms every time I try to pronounce something.
scaler911 says:

Jan 5 2012 at 8:19 pm

@hungsolo

@scaler911
Exactly where I am! Next time you're here if a bike is available let's go for a ride!

This is where I live actually:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMwCkZiEQ7A
RedRanger says:

Jan 5 2012 at 8:42 pm

@scaler911
My folks live in the suburbs also. Its actually called Oro Valley, with sub divisions called Ranch Vistoso or Vistoso Views and other unoriginal names. Vapid would be how I describe it. that song described it perfectly.
BrianG says:

Jan 5 2012 at 9:12 pm

@FNG
Gents, I'm just over the hill in Reno. Let me know if you're ever somewhere between Auburn or this area. S. Lake Tahoe has some fun riding too, even now what with this nice summer weather!
DerHoggz says:

Jan 5 2012 at 9:17 pm

Oh goodness, I can't stand the suburbs. I hang out quite a bit in one of Pittsurgh's farther out suburbs, and I can't stand the mindset of most of the people. So. Many. Yuppies. The kids are worse though, typical entitled jerks.
FNG says:

Jan 5 2012 at 9:48 pm

@BrianG
Will do. I work up in Grass Valley & Auburn sometimes & I like riding in Tahoe. The thin air makes you gasp like you're climbing Alpe d'Huez!
silkrider says:

Jan 5 2012 at 10:22 pm

There are three types of people, those who can count, and those who can't...

so, the Gilet.. I am not into the pornography of gear, i just don't need that much stuff, but i have to admit, a vest does come in handy, a great wind breaker, part of the whole layering system. You gotta figure, if it wasn't useful, it wouldn't exist, would it? Cyclists wouldn't overburden themselves needlessly, would they?